Adjustable choke



RWM* M ma aw. H Ne o H @i T F WR. nm m W Oct. 1, 1957 w. R. WHEELERADJUSTABLE CHOKE Filed NOV. 9, 1955 United States Patent @dice 2,807,903Patented Oct. l, 1957 ADJUSTABLE CHOKE Warren R. Wheeler, San Francisco,Calif.

Application November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,813

1 Claim. (Cl. 42-79) Thisinvention relates to an adjustment device for a'variable choke on a shotgun;

Adjustable chokes are well-known for use on Shotguns, enabling a hunterto adjust the pattern of the shot to suit the range and conditions underwhich the hunter is shooting. In other words, an adjustable choke allowsthe hunter to select an optimum shot pattern and maintain the size ofpattern at various ranges.

In the past, ,such devices have required that the hunter turn anadjustment on the barrel end of the shotgun. This is undesirable forreasons of both safety and convenience. When it is necessary to make anadjustment in the barrel end of the shotgun, there is always a hazardsince the gun barrel must be pointed at or near the hunter, endangeringthe life'of the hunter and others who may be hunting with him. It isalso inconvenient to adjust the choke in this manner since it isimpossible to make the adjustment while the gun is being pointed in thevicinity of a prospective target. For example, if the gun is set forlong range shooting and a bird is flushed near the hunter, there is notsulicient time to adjust the pattern for the close range and a birdwould, as a result, be either mutilated or missed altogether.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anadjustment for a variable choke on a shotgun or the like wherein theadjustment can be made by a hunter while the gun is in or near thenormal shooting position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustment for a chokewhich is simple, inexpensive to manufacture and substantially foolproofin operation.

Referring now to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gun having mounted thereon the deviceof the present invention, said drawing being partially in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional View on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the lines 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown ashotgun having a barrel 5 and a magazine tube 7. Mounted on the barrel 5is a choke generally indicated at 9. Such chokes are well-known to thoseskilled in the art and will not be described in detail. However, thechoke has an inner portion 11 which has a series of splines 13 therein.The second portion of the choke 14 slides within the member 17 and has awedgeshaped abutment 19 thereon, which abuts against the member 11, asillustrated. Thus, as the member is slid toward the rear of the gun, thesplines 13 are pushed inwardly, exerting the choking action, While thebore is fully open when member 15 is in its forward position.

According to the present invention, the inner member 15 has connectedthereto an arm 21 which slides in the slot 23 of the member 17. A rod 25is connected to the arm 21, as shown, and the rear end of the rod 25terminates in a slender portion 27 having an enlarged head 29 thereon.The portion 27 slides through a retainer 31, which also serves as aholder for the spring 33. The spring 33 is a compression type springwhich is compressed as the rod 25 moves toward the front of the gun.Therefore, the spring 33 tends to keep the rod ZS biased toward the rearof the gun. Mounted on the barrel of the gun 5 is a clamp 35 which has ashaft 37 running therethrough. At the center of the shaft is a cam 39and the head 29 of the rod 25 bears against the cam 39, as is shown. Theshaft 37 also has a handle 41 thereon for turning the cam. If desired,the cam 39 can have a series of flat faces, providing a detent action.Also, the t of the shaft 37 in the clamp 35 can be made snug, so thatthe cam is held in the desired place by friction.

To operate the choke, it is only necessary to set the handle 41 at adesired position. For instance, in Figure 1 two alternate positions,designated 41A and 41B, are shown in dotted lines. Therefore, the huntermay Set the choke to any desired position by merely turning the lever 41and, as is apparent, this may be done while the gun is still insubstantially the shooting position. Thus, there has been provided adevice for operating the choke which is operable from the rear of thegun, and which is much faster and safer to use than a conventional chokeadjusting mechanism.

I claim:

ln an adjustable choke for a shotgun having a movable sliding memberlocated on the muzzle end of the barrel of the shotgun and a rodconnected to said sliding member extending toward the rear of the gun.whereby movement of said rod serves to adjust the choke, the improvementcomprising a clamp on the barrel of the gun, said clamp having anopening parallel to the axis of the barrel of the gun for receiving theterminal end of said rod, said clamp having two parallel side members,an opening at right angles to the barrel through said side members forpivotably receiving a shaft, a cam on said shaft between the sidemembers having a series of flat faces thereon, a spring in said clampurging the terminal end of said rod into contact with the at faces ofthe cam and a handle on said shaft located externally of said clampwhereby said handle can be turned to bring successive flat faces of thecam into contact with the ter minal end of said rod whereby turning saidhandle brings the rod into different positions, altering the adjustmentof the adjustable choke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,348,750 Schuster Aug. 3, 1920 1,508,605 Legett et al Sept. 16, 19242,442,899 McAllister June 8, 1948 2,466,203 Bristow Apr. 5, 19492,490,829 Noll Dec. 13, 1949

